Locks



VApril 29. 1969 3 E. F. CONSTABLE 3,440,844

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E. F. coNsTAaLE April 29,4

y of 4 Sheet I-IOCKS fFilea aan. 1o, '1967 w am# United States Patent O 3,440,844 LOCKS Eric F. Constable, Solihull, England, assignor to C. W. Cheney & Son Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Filed Jan. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 608,301 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 27, 1966, 3,646/66 Int. Cl. Eb 65/52; A45c 13/10; E05c T9/08 U.S. Cl. 70-70 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A luggage lock with a manually displaceable and springreturned slide. The slide has a jaw to engage a separate hasp and carries a spring-loaded pawl extending across the jaw before the hasp is engaged. The jaw is displaced -When the hasp is moved into engagement but can return to the extended position to block the spring return of the slide after the slide has been manually withdrawn but the hasp has not been removed from the jaw.

This invention relates to locks for luggage of the kind in which a hasp is mounted on for example the suitcase lid and the lock on the suitcase body so that when the lid is closed the hasp snap-engages with the lock to hold the lid closed. The lid can be secured in the closed position by a key-actuated mechanism in the lock, and when this mechanism is unlocked the lid can be released by displacing manually a slide which engages with the hasp. The invention provides a spring-loaded catch pawl on the slide and this pawl is displaced during lid closing so as to have no effect on the mechanism, but is spring-returned When the slide is displaced preparatory to re-opening the lid, and then prevents the slide being spring returned until the lid has been opened and re-closed. This prevents the mechanism being inadvertently left in an unsafe position in which the slide is only partly spring-returned to the engaged position.

In accordance with the present invention a lock of the kind referred to is characterised by the provision of a slide which is movable relative to one of the parts between engaged and released position with respect to said other part, said slide being provided with a pivotally mounted catch-pawl which is spring urged to a position in which it `extends into the path of entry of said other part during movement of the latter into a position for engagement as aforesaid whereby said pawl is displaced during said entry, said pawl being located so as to enable it to contact said hasp after slide retraction from the engaged position and act as a stop following said contact and prevent re-engagement.

If desired, the slide may include an inclined ramp adapted to eject the hasp when the slide is moved relative to the hasp. Moreover, catch means may be provided and movable between a rst position in which slide movement is possible and a second position in ywhich slide movement is prevented, quite independently of any locking means.

The lock may be adapted for mounting wholly externally of the suitcase, or with parts internally thereof. The slide may be displaceable by a cover, knob, nozzle or the like, or by a manually operable end located part.

Various embodiments of the invention are now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment showing the lock and hasp separated;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the lock of FIGURE 1 with parts removed for clarity;

3,440,844 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ICC FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the assembly in locked condition;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 but showing the lock ready for opening;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lock of FIGURES l to 4; t

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of lock;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but of the second embodiment;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevation similar to FIGURE 7 but of a third embodiment;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional side elevation of a fourth embodiment;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2 but of the fourth embodiment; and l FIGURE ll is a fragmentary view similar to FIG- URES 3, 7 and 8 but showing a fifth embodiment.

Referring now to the first embodiment and to FIG- URE 5 of the drawings in particular, the lock shown therein comprises an assembly of die-castings, including a front plate 12, an operating knob 14, a locking plate 16, a slide 18, and a catch-pawl 20. The assembly also includes metal pressings namely a key selector plate 22, a plate spring 24 and a back plate 26. The assembly also includes a coil compression-spring 28 and various assembly screws 30.

The front plate 12 is stepped at 31 so that face 32 can be secured on one side of a valance extending around the suitcase or the like with the back plate 26 seating on the valance. Tapped holes 33 are provided in face 32 for this purpose, but it ywill be appreciated that these can be replaced by integral tubular rivets, fixing prongs or other expedients to the same end.

The face 34 adjacent the step is recessed at 35 to allow the back-plate to be located flush with lface 34, and screws 30 pass through holes 37 in the back plate and into tapped holes 39 in the recess to this effect.

The front plate 12 is further stepped in the same direction at 40 to receive the hasp 42 (FIGURE l) which, as best seen in FIGURES l to 3 is of complementary shape in rear elevation to fit wholly behind surface 43 (FIGURE 5) and project beyond surface 34 to be coplanar with face 32; the liace 44 of the hasp is secured e.g. to the suitcase lid in like manner -by screws, rivets or the like, and tapped holes 45 are provided in the illustrated lock for the screws.

In order to ensure that the hasp and front plate are properly aligned, the face 43 has projecting substantially semicircular suction prismatic bosses and the hasp has complementary recesses 51.

The front plate has an elongated slot 53 and the knob 14 has a shank 54 which slides in the slot; the knob shape and size is such that it always obscures the slot in any possible position of the knob relative to the slot. The shank terminates in a squared end which is received in a like hole 55 in slide 18 and a screw 30 enters a tapped hole in the shank to hold the knob and slide together. The slide is slidable in the front plate and is held against turning by the sides of the recess in the front plate.

The front plate also has a shallow groove 57 which locates spring 28. Further, the front plate has a well formed with a key-hole 58 opening through the front face of the plate and into a first circular depression 59 which rotatably journals the key selector plate 22 therein. A larger co-axial recess 60 has opposite pockets 61 and this locates lobes 64 of plate spring 24 against turning.

The plate spring has a pair of arcuate spring arms or blades 62 each provided with a curled end 63. The centre of the spring 24 has a key-hole 65 therein.

The locking plate 16 seats in recess 60 and is rotatably joumalled thereby. The plate is generally annular with an inwardly directed key engaging lug 66, and has a locking lug 67 projecting7 normally from its periphery. The periphery is notched at equispaced positions 68, `69, 70, 71. The notches are located so that the spring ends 63 snap into either pair of recesses 68, 69 or 70, 71 respectively according to the angular position of the plate 16, and the key (not shown) action is that it (the key) is inserted through the selector plate 22 (which controls the section of key admissible) through the key-hole 65 (which controls the angular position of the key before the key blade can enter the locking plate) and then, when the key is turned, the blade travels through e.g. 270 to engage lug 66 and turn the plate for 90 so that the ends 63 snap from recesses 68, 69 into recesses 70, 71; this effects locking (as will be hereinafter described). Unlocking effects a like but reverse operation.

The hasp 42 (FIGURES 1 to 3) has a hasp lug 75 with a laterally directed jaw 76. If desired the lug may be made as a separate part secured to the hasp, as shown by dotted lines on FIGURE l only; this is solely a matter of manufacturing convenience. The front plate step 40 is interrupted by a gap 77 to allow the lug 75 to enter the lock mechanism and slide 18 has a locking jaw 78 into which the lug 75 is projected when the suitcase lid is closed. The operative end edges of the jaws 78, 76 are bevelled so that, with the slide in the FIGURE 2 position, closing of the hasp to the lock carries the slide in the direction of arrow A, FIGURE 2, and the spring 28, which has ends abutting the front plate end wall at 80 and the slide (indirectly, as hereinafter explained) at 81, resiliently return the slide to the FIGURE 3 position to engage and retain the hasp thereto.

This reciprocatory movement of the slide is only possible when the lock is in the unlocked position, as shown in FIGURE 2, when lug 67 of the locking plate 16 is clear of the slide. Locking, by rotation of the locking plate to the FIGURE 3 position, takes lug 67 into recess 83 in the slide to abut edge 84 thereof. The curved external face of the lug 67 assists in driving the slide to the extreme locking position (if necessary) when end edge 85 of the slide abuts the front plate wall at 86 (FIGURE 5).

The recess 83 in the slide allows free rotation of the locking key, and a hole 89 in the back plate journals the key shank or tip.

The catch is pivoted on an integral part 90 on the slide, and is generally T shaped with a tongue 91 bent normally of the catch to abut edge 81 of the slide when in the FIGURE 2 position, and spring 28 actually abuts against that tongue 91. The head of the T is pivoted as aforesaid at one end and at the other end projects (in the FIGURE 2 position) across the jaw 78. It will be appreciated that the spring 28 always acts on the slide either via tongue 91 and edge 81 in the FIGURE 2 position or via tongue 91 and pivot 90 when in the FIGURE 3 position.

During normal closing of the hasp, i.e. closing of the suitcase lid, the catch is displaced away from the jaw to the FIGURE 3 position, and is inoperative except that pivoting of the catch provides additional loading on the spring 28 which therefore increases the resilient loading which snaps the slide to the hasp engaged position when the two jaws mesh.

However, if the knob 14 is then retracted preparatory to opening the lid of the suitcase, but without actually opening the suitcase, there would (in the absence of the catch) be a possibility that the lid would open slightly (because of pressure from within due to tightly packed clothes etc.) which might result in the jaws staying in the position in which point B and point C (FIGURE 3) contact one another. The spring 28 could not then re-close the parts and the user, if distracted at this time, might not realize that the case was not secured, particularly since the knob 14 would not be in either extreme position. In such event however, the catch is returned from the FIG- URE 3 position, and due to the shape of the catch extremity and hasp lug extremity, and also due to the position of the three points at which load is shared, namely point (FIGURE 5) tongue 91 and pivot 90, the spring may then act to retract the slide thus allowing the catch to swing up to the FIGURE 4 position. In this position the knob 14 is at the extreme retracted position thus giving a clear indication to the user of the unsecured state of the suitcase.

Moreover, if the catch is suitably dimensioned, the hasp may be automatically ejected from the lock by the tail 94 of the catch engaging under the hasp lug 75 even in the retracted position thereof. This alternative is shown by dotted lines 95, FIGURE 3.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the front plate has, adjacent the knob 14, a ramp 99 which projects clear of the front plate to a greater height than the knob, and this is so that if the complete suitcase is for example in a conveyor, as is common at airports, and the lock encounters an obstacle whilst the lock is in the unlocked condition, the ramp will displace the case bodily and prevent the knob being retracted Iby the obstacle to open the case.

The embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is in all respects identical to that in FIGURES 1 to 5 with the following exceptions:

The knob is eliminated and the slide projects through an end of the front plate to terminate in a manually displaceable part 100. Consequently the ramp 99 is not required, and the slot 53 is eliminated.

In the embodiment in FIGURE 8 the construction is again identical to FIGURES 1 to 5 but an additional manually operable catch is provided. This is conveniently at an end of the front plate and has a groove to register with an end wall of the front plate so that after assembly of the back plate, the catch is permanently retained in position. The catch is slidable in the direction of arrows D FIGURE 8 to take la lug 111 of the catch into recess 112 of the front plate or into register with the end of slide 18. In one position the slide is held against movement, quite independently of the locking plate, and in the other position is free for sliding movement. The catch has a groove 113, and the back plate (not shown) has a free linger with a rib which snaps resiliently into or out of the groove to locate the catch firmly in either position. This facility is convenient if the user has mislaid the key, in providing additional security, and s particularly useful if automatic hasp ejection is provided.

The embodiments of FIGURES 1 to 8 are secured wholly on the case exterior, but this is by no means essential. FIGURE 9 shows one alternative using an assembly of pressed metal parts in which slide is guided in a casing 121, 122, mounted inside the suitcase wall 123, and a plate 124 on the case exterior holds the casing in place. The slide is displaceable by knob 125 via peg 126, and the key (not shown) passes through the knob to operate locking plate 127 in the same manner as in FIG- URES 1 to 8 although the knob could (in an unillustrated modification) be made shorter with the key passing direct through plate 124. The spring return of the slide, pivoted catch 20 and locking arrangements (not shown) are the same as in FIGURES 1 to 8.

FIGURE 11 shows `a modification applicable to any of FIGURES 1 to l0, in which the jaw 130 in the slide 131 includes a ramp 132 to positively eject the hasp lug 133.

I claim:

1. A luggage lock comprising (l) a lock body; and

(2) a separate hasp for engagement with the lock body; the lock comprising (a) a slide guided for linear sliding movement in the body, (b) a jaw in the slide for engaging the hasp, (c) spring means for displacing the slide to a first position from which it is manually displaceable to a second position,

(d) the lock body delining an aperture permitting the hasp to project to engage the slide jaw, the aperture being so positioned relative to the slide and the slide jaw and hasp being complementarily so shaped that movement of the hasp through the aperture displaces the slide to the second position wherefrom the slide is returned to the first position by the spring means,

(e) a pawl pivotally mounted on the slide for movement therewith,

(f) a nose on the pawl remote from the pivot and extending normally across the jaw :so as to block the same, the pawl being spring urged to a normal and jaw blocking position, and being displaceable from said position to a second position in which it is clear of, but adjacent, the jaw, the displacement occurring when the hasp is inserted and the slide moves to the second position, and the nose of the pawl being so dimensioned relative to the slide jaw and hasp that, upon manual retraction of the slide to the second position, the pa=wl is spring returned to thel blocking position and abuts the hasp to block spring return of the slide to the irst position if the hasp is not withdrawn.

2. The lock defined in claim 1, wherein the pawl is substantially L shaped, abutment means is arranged to allow movement of the pawl from the displaced position to the normal position but to prevent movement beyond the normal position, and a spring abuts one limb of the L, the spring constituting said spring means and also returning the pawl to the blocking position.

3. The lock defined in claim 1, the lock body defining a slot which opens to the slide, a knob is mounted on the body, and a stem on the knob extends through the slot and engages with the slide for manual movement of the slide.

4. The lock defined in claim 1, further comprising a safety catch including a member movable between a position Vblocking movement of the slide from the irst position and another position permitting such movement, said member being movable from the lock body exterior.

5. The lock defined in claim 1, wherein the slide projects out of an end of the lock body for manual movement of the slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,115 2/1941 Thiele 70-70 2,294,120 8/ 1942 Levine 70-70 X 2,478,434 8/1949 Swanson 70-70 3,245,236 4/ 1966 Atkinson 70-71 3,310,970 3 1967 Humphries 70-70 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 292-153 

